UPDATED:  JUN 20, 2007

                        A POX – UPDATED 

Since TPJ’s article, A POX – ON BOTH OUR HOUSES, a Democracy Corps poll has been published that reinforces the need for Democrats to chart new a new, expanded direction.  

Democracy Corps polled 70 Congressional Districts it believes are critical to the 2008 election cycle.  Democracy Corps concludes that the playing field is developing favorably for Democrats.  Yet, Americans are concerned over gridlock on a number of important issues.  Democracy Corps highlights these findings (emphasis added): 

Two particular survey questions are telling in TPJ’s opinion.  Democracy Corps asked respondents to choose between these two statements: 

Democrats have made progress on the actions they pledged to take if they took control of Congress.

OR

Democrats have not made progress on the actions they pledged to take if they took control of Congress 

The response:  37% chose the first statement and an astounding 56% chose the second statement.  Of the 56% who believe Democrats are not making process on their agenda, Democracy Corps asked the following question: 

(IF NO PROGRESS IN Q.52) Whom do you think is mainly to blame for the lack of progress: George Bush and the Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress?

Total

George Bush and the Republicans in Congress ........................ 33

Democrats in Congress........................................................... 52

(All) ...................................................................................... 10

(Other) .................................................................................... 1

(Don't know/refused) ................................................................. 4

George Bush/Republicans - Democrats.................................-20 

In sum, Democrats are being held accountable for the lack progress on policy issues.  The public attitudes represented in these two questions are, in TPJ’s estimation, the greatest threat for the Democratic Party. 

Obviously, Congressional Democrats must advance an agenda other than ending the war in Iraq.  The recent spate of Congressional investigations and hearings are reasonable and necessary.  Yet, Congressional investigations and hearings are consuming public attention rather than the policy agenda that the Democrats have and should be advancing.  For example, slightly less than 50% of Americans actually know that Democrats passed a minimum wage increase that is now law.  

Given these poll findings, the effort by some Democrats to impeach Bush and/or Cheney, which has no chance of success, represents another potential distraction from the expectations of the American public.  Democrats need to be advancing legislation that addresses the problems that hard working Americans face each day.  

Dr. Steve Jonas, TPJ’s Contributing Author, offers an insightful article with a more complete analysis of the Democratic Party’s predicament and a fuller prescription for what Democrats should be about in his column today.  It is a must read for every Democrat.     

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